American Honorary Citizens

America should be able to name honorary citizens, people who live in nearby countries but have contributed so much to our Nation. I would like to nominate 5 such people, 1 painter and 5 musicians.

First, from Mexico, Diego Rivera. Rivera was a painter who portrayed the people, the workers, farmers, musicians, shopkeepers, soldiers and just about everyone in his Native land. His work is colorful and seems to me deceptively simple. There is none of the lushness and texture of the great European masters and that is more than fine, it is perfect for his subjects. In his simplicity, in his use of color, he captures the heart of these wonderful people. He often worked on murals, elaborate scenes of life, often joyous, sometime not so much, but always capturing the essence of a people who have, throughout our history, contributed much to American life.

Second, Joni Mitchell. She took the whole singer-songwriter thing out of the hands of men and gave voice to women. Keep in mind, when she started in folk music , men dominated, Dylan, Phil Ochs, Dave van Ronk, Ramblin' Jack Eliot. But, she was there, writing and singing. Yes, there was Joan Baez but she was stuck in traditional music. As the acid days of pop music died down, again men dominated, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, and the rest of the angst driven writers of confessional songs. Joni was still there. Then, as pop music grew more sophisticate, adding complexity taken from jazz, think Steely Dan, she was there, turning out albims like Court and Spark, Hejira, and Don Juan's Reckless Daughter. She, while producing fine music, opened doors for many female writers and singers and gave men a glimpse into the workings of an intelligent, artistic female mind. She has been in poor health of late, so please give some thought and recognition to this genius.

Third, Neil Young.  This Canadian has been around for what seems like eternity. I first heard of him with Buffalo Springfield, then with CSNY and on his solos work. He is a quirky artist, my favorite kind, and a kind we are sorely lacking in this day's pop music. His voice is an aquired taste, his lyrics are often obscure to the point of being downright indeciferable and his guitar playing is, at best idiosyncratic, but, it works and his material has always been fascinating, in a very odd way. I like odd.

Fourth, and more conventionally, Gordon Lightfoot. This Canadian has produced a long stream of radio friendly folk/pop hits and deservedly so, The music is rich and his voice richer, sort of like the best of moonshine (those who have tasted properly made corn whiskey will understand immediately. Those who haven't, well, sorry, it is wonderful and, with the passing of the old makers, probably gone forever). I do not think that enough attention has been given to his songs. His lyrics are simple, as are his subjects, and therein lies their eloquence. When you write of people as they are, the good and the bad, there is no need of frills. The simpler the better is often true and his portraits of sailors and drinkers, of dreamers and lovers, of young ramblers and the old folks at home, are wonderful, especially when set, as he often does, in pictures of the natural world and the city that are breathtaking in their simple beauty. Sometimes, most often in fact, the best thing is storytelling. Set location, create character and let the story roll out and your work will be filled with a richness that far outstrips the pretentions of many artists. His Sundown album is a lovely, understated masterpiece.

Fifth and Sixth are 2 more Canadien musicians, Robbie Robertson and Garth Hudson fron The Band. If you don't know The Band, they were at one time Dylan's backup band. They went on to be one of the biggest rock bands of the late 60s and 70s. Why I call the rock, I am not sure. They sure could rock and they could play the blues, but their real brilliance was in the way they created something unique and new by blending all of American music into a kind of gumbo of sound. Like a good gumbo, it was delicious, a blend of folk, blues, rock and roll, ragtime, all with lyrics that celebrated America, the happy and the sad. What is more amazing is that they did this at a time when America was in a dark, destructive frame of mind. These guys, 1 American and 4 Canadians, reminded us of our heritage and celebrated that heritage. Robertson and Hudson are the only ones of them left and their contribution to Amercia, their sheer joy in this Land, should be remembered.

Rivera passed on long ago, but the others are still here and I truly believe that they are worthy of being recognized as honorary citizens. If you have others, please comment.